Essendon yet to speak with Ross Lyon amid concern Bombers hamstrung in trade talks without coach

Only weeks from the AFL trade period, Essendon is still without a coach. And the longer it takes, the more it threatens to hold up key list calls.

Dockers' head coach Ross Lyon.

Essendon’s search for a senior coach has threatened to hold up its trade plans as prospective targets hit pause on talks with the Bombers.

The club has begun the process of looking for Ben Rutten’s replacement but were yet to sound out four-time Grand Final coach Ross Lyon on Wednesday afternoon.

Essendon vice-captain Zach Merrett sought out Lyon’s advice several years ago as he fought to become more consistent dealing with heavy tags and is known to be a big fan of the former St Kilda and Fremantle boss.

But by Wednesday Lyon was yet to have any meaningful talks with the Bombers and has made clear he is enjoying his time working in commercial property and the AFL media.

Lyon, 55, called for “visibility” on the process Essendon is running to appoint its next senior coach.

“It’s all swirling around and that’s where I sit,” Lyon said on Channel 9.

“It’s a bit confusing, to be honest. Because I work at Wizel Property Group full-time, I do my media and I haven’t spoken to anybody (from Essendon).”

Footy legend Leigh Matthews implored the Bombers to target Lyon because no other candidate had his “gravitas”, comments which Lyon described as “generous”.

While no definitive time frame has been set on a new coach, Essendon would like to settle on Ben Rutten’s replacement by the start of next month, with the free agency/trade period set to open on September 30.

Zach Merrett has links to Ross Lyon - but the Bombers are yet to speak to the former Fremantle and St Kilda coach about taking on the vacant job.

Hawthorn great Jordan Lewis, who was appointed to the Bombers’ coaching selection panel, said some candidates may be approached to help form a shortlist.

“I’d imagine right now the applicants would be calling either Josh Mahoney (football manager) or someone else from the footy club to register their interest,” Lewis said on Fox Footy.

“And Josh and other people would be calling other potential candidates to see if they’re interested.”

The Bombers have significant salary cap room to spend on mature talent and are interested in North Melbourne’s Cameron Zurhaar and West Coast’s Junior Rioli, among others.

However Essendon’s endeavours to bolster its list has been made more difficult by the fact that, unlike North Melbourne, its target players are unable to yet meet the Bombers’ senior coach or receive concrete information about their potential new roles in red and black.

The new coach will also play a significant role in the bid to win the signature of star ballwinner Darcy Parish who is out of contract and a restricted free agent at the end of next year.

Zurhaar, 24, has been lowballed by the Kangaroos and could also entertain interest from St Kilda as he weighs up whether to stick with North under new coach Alastair Clarkson.

The Roos remained confident he would remain at Arden St and had his best football in front of him in blue and white.

The Dons are preparing to swoop on Cam Zurhaar after he was low-balled by North. Picture: Getty Images

But a commitment could hinge on an improved long-term offer to Zurhaar who looms as a crucial cog alongside Nick Larkey in 2023.

Premiership small forward Rioli would fill a huge need for the Bombers as they were hard hit by the retirements of pressure forwards Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Devon Smith and developing prospect Irving Mosquito in recent years.

Rioli has been given only a modest offer from West Coast and has attracted strong interest from Port Adelaide and an inquiry from North Melbourne.

Rioli, 27, remains committed to working out a fair deal at West Coast but has family implications to consider after losing his father this year.

Essendon is on the hunt for a new senior coach, chief executive and football director and most likely new captain as Dyson Heppell considers his future.

Gold Coast has reached out to Heppell in a bid to add his leadership and experience to their back half and on-field coaching ranks.

Dyson Heppell is weighing up his future. Picture: Getty Images

But Heppell is yet to make a call on his future and will discuss it further with manager Marty Pask once he returns from an overseas trip with teammates.

Heppell, 30, looks set to benefit from handing over the captaincy role after six years as skipper but it remains unclear who is best-placed to take over the leadership.

Star midfielder and vice-captain Merrett is the frontrunner for the job despite being dumped from the leadership group two years ago and reinstated.

No. 1 pick Andrew McGrath is the other vice-captain but battled some indifferent form early in the season. Ruckman Sam Draper is popular within the group but has played only 43 games.

Essendon swingman Aaron Francis is out of contract and faces an uncertain future amid a lack of strong interest in the South Australian.

Francis, 25, fell out of favour this year, playing four games for the season. He has played 54 matches in seven seasons.